Four Of The Best European Cities For Expats Who Just Love To Travel

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Four Of The Best European Cities For Expats Who Just Love To Travel

If you’ve moved abroad because you just love experiencing new places, cultures, food and lifestyles, why would you suddenly stop wanting to travel once living overseas? For those who want to continue travelling the world, finding a home base that allows easy access to a wide range of exciting destinations is the ultimate dream.

And for those Americans, Australians and people from Asia buying boltholes in Europe, why limit themselves to one island or remote coast?

The overseas property experts at PropertyGuides.com have revealed four of the best European cities to move to, or buy a holiday home in, if you want to keep mobile.

Milan, Barcelona, Paphos, and Athens are four vibrant cities with not only plenty of attractions of their own, but are also well-connected with other wonderful locations in Europe.

Christopher Nye, senior content editor at overseas property resource PropertyGuides.com says: “Moving to cities like Milan, Barcelona, Paphos, or Athens allows travel enthusiasts to satisfy their wanderlust while enjoying the comforts of a well-connected home base. These cities offer excellent transportation links, an exciting lifestyle and a wealth of cultural experiences.

“Whether you are seeking weekend getaways or embarking on a world tour, these cities provide the perfect starting point for your travel adventures.”

If you’re looking to move abroad but want to continue to travel, these are the top European cities to move to:

Milan, Italy

Although Milan may be known as Italy’s fashion and culture capital, it is also an ideal city for travel enthusiasts to move to. Milan is a great city for air travel, served by not one, but three airports that are hubs for many airlines, so you can fly directly to a whole range of destinations around the world.

From Milan it’s also easy to embark on weekend getaways without flying. You can reach other much-loved European destinations such as Paris, Rome and Barcelona due to the extensive and efficient rail network, or just drive over the mountains to Switzerland, Austria or the Cote d’Azur.

Barcelona, Spain

Barcelona is a city renowned for its unique blend of culture, history and stunning architecture – but it’s also great for travelling. With its international airport, Barcelona is a gateway to countless destinations worldwide, as the city’s strategic location and well-connected transport system make it easy to reach a whole range of other countries.

The city is an extremely popular tourist destination, meaning that it also has a diverse and multicultural community, and it’s also become more and more popular for digital nomads, as they become attracted to its lively atmosphere and opportunities for remote work.

Fancy a trip? In two hours you can drive to France, Got your sea legs? Barcelona is a busy port with ferries not just to the Balearic Islands, but also North African ports such as Tangier or Italian ports such as Genoa.

Paphos, Cyprus

Just look at a map to see the appeal of Cyprus to globetrotters. Set at the crossroads of Asia, Africa and Europe, you can fly to Cairo in 90 minutes, Athens in less than two hours and Dubai in a little over four.

Paphos is known for its natural beauty, with many being drawn to it for its rich history and warm Mediterranean climate. Although the climate can be enjoyed all year round, with the international airport that’s located in Paphos, it’s easy to jet off to a new destination whenever you fancy it.

Cyprus also has a low cost of living compared to other European countries, which makes it a great option for those seeking to combine travel with a fulfilling lifestyle, as they’re not going to be spending a fortune to live there.

Athens, Greece

Athens is a city that effortlessly blends history, culture and contemporary living. It’s home to a well-established international airport with numerous flight connections to destinations around the globe.

As the centre of the Mediterranean ferry system, you can hop on a ferry as easily as a bus to places like Mykonos or Crete. But as one of the world’s busiest tourist destinations you’ll find a summertime flight to just about anywhere. So while Scandinavians swarm down to Greece, you can get a return flight and be chilling wherever you fancy.

Moving Abroad Checklist

Initial Considerations

Will your partner be travelling with you?

If so, what will they be giving up in your present home and will they be able to continue with their career in your new home? You will need to check whether a separate visa is required for your partner to work or if your visa gives that right. If they are unable to work you will need to decide on the effect on your finances and what alternatives are available to give a fulfilling life (home business, training, voluntary work).

Are you taking family with you?

Moving with family raises many exciting opportunities, but also can create challenges. The HSBC Expat Explorer survey indicates that expat kids can take six months to settle in to their new country (see article). Getting young or even older children to prepare to move and leave their friends and family behind can be a challenge and should be thought through.

The options for education is another area that needs to be thought through.

Moving your child to a new country with a different education system can be a great opportunity to broaden their experience, but if they are close to key exams the timing can make this inadvisable. If you do take your family with you, it is important to decide between joining the local school system or choosing an international school.

Where will you be living?

Whether you will be living in a house or apartment, furnished or unfurnished, these decisions will affect what you need to take with you. The time you are planning to live overseas will also affect whether you should leave your property at home empty, rent it out or sell it. See the article Sell, Store or Ship.